10/12/2025
Pastors post part 1
When you hear about a pastor having a moral failure — does that bother you? It really troubles me.
Because when it happens, people often pull back from church, or even from God.
It contributes to this container of distrust in our hearts, and honestly, it makes ministry harder for every other pastor who’s trying to serve Jesus faithfully and love the people.
Sometimes it feels like there’s an epidemic of fallen pastors.
But research from Lifeway Research shows that of about 1,000 pastors who step down each year, less than 1% is due to moral failure.
That means around 98-99% of pastors are still faithfully serving, teaching, and caring for people.
Out of 350,000 to 400,000 Protestant churches in America, there are hundreds of thousands of pastors still showing up every week for their people.
I know it’s disappointing, but don’t buy into the idea that no pastor can be trusted. They can.
If you’ve been hurt, give a new pastor a chance. Or try another church.
But don’t cancel the church, pastors or your faith altogether.
And remember no one is perfect. Pastors are human too. Give them some grace.
I’m not talking about ignoring sin or misconduct — those things should be addressed.
But most of the time, we’re talking about flawed people doing their best to serve God and others.”
And to my brothers and sisters in Christ – on social media - we need to talk.
Too many Christians are attacking pastors and churches online.
Please stop. Take a breath. Step back.
Galatians 5 says, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. If you bite and devour one another, you’ll destroy each other.’
Maybe there’s a better way to build authenticity in the Body of Christ, than tearing people down. Stop encouraging a “cancel culture” in the church.
October is Pastor Appreciation Month and today, October 12, is Pastor Appreciation Day. So, here’s my challenge:
- send a text, make a call, write a note.
- Let a pastor — past or present, know they’re appreciated.
- And if this message hits you, share it with a friend or tag a pastor below.
Let me hear your comments below:
